Trail Talk: There’s an app for that

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iNaturalist is great for identifying plants and birds, but fungi are often a problem. I took a photo of a fungi on a stump and the suggestions were: oyster rollrim, sheep polypore , Albatrellus avellaneus and lilac oysterling. After I returned and cut some of the fungi off so the gills were exposed, iNaturalist then listed lilac oysterling as first suggestion, which was later confirmed by experts.

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While I was sitting on our bench, which I rarely do, trying to photograph a rose-breasted grosbeak, I saw a brown bird at the feeder that did not look like the usual ones. Fortunately, my photograph turned out well and it was a pine siskin, a new bird to me. I caught a glimpse of another new bird to me, a red-headed woodpecker, on the Maitland Trail at Sharpes Creek Line. While hiking at Hullett on May 8, we were surprised to see two swans flying overhead.

Thyra has started using the app Merlin to listen to bird songs and finding out that there are quite a few warblers in our area that we rarely, if ever, see.

Jane Davidson died on May 1. In the early years of the Trompers, a different meeting place and contact person were assigned each month. Jane Davidson talked about standing there, hopefully, each week in September 1998 and no one showing up. Thanks to her and other dedicated walkers’ persistence, they did not give up and slowly but surely people began to turn up. From then on, the group grew and now typically average 16 Trompers. I once asked Jane about a flower in the garden — it was a star-of-Bethlehem. I asked her if it was a weed. She said: “If you like it, then it is not a weed; if you don’t like it, then it is a weed!”

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Three of us tackled the garlic mustard on the G2G between Lucknow Line and Sharpes Creek Line during a two-hour stint that filled four garbage bags. While working we saw at least 40 midland painted turtles in the ponds. Later on in the section, I saw a garter snake on the Sharpes Creek Bridge and, after stopping to take a photo, found two snakes there. I suspect that many cyclists using the trail were totally unaware of the snakes.

Notes

The work on the G2G tunnel under the county road is scheduled to start on May 21, which means that portion will be closed for as many as  26 days.

The Bayfield River Flats are closed during construction of a pedestrian bridge, scheduled to be completed by the end of May.

Saturday, May 25, at 10 a.m. Millennium Trail. This is a meditative hike on the Millennium Trail for approximately 1.5 hours – meet at the church on Mill Road in Goderich. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Tanya MacIntyre at redroofrecovery@gmail. com. This is a Level 1 leisurely paced hike.

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Sunday, May 26, from 10 a.m. to noon A BRVTA Hike at the Huronview Demonstration Farm

Sunday, May 26, at 9 a.m. Cycle the Goderich G2G. This is a biking opportunity from Goderich to Auburn Bridge and back — a 30-kilometre loop. Meet at the rock before the Menestung Bridge. Must have a bike in good working condition. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Sally Brodie by texting 226-378-1648. This is a moderately paced Level 1 ride of about two hours.

Sunday, May 26, at 6 p.m. Sifto Loop. Meet at rock on North Harbour Road. Mindfulness in Nature walk — pause and explore mindfulness techniques, Walking meditation and forest therapy. Designed for those who want the benefits of meditation but prefer to move! Dress appropriately for moving slowly, and please leave your pets at home (dogs are already very Zen!). For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Janie van Essen via email at jvanessen@hotmail.com or text 519-955-4402. Leisurely paced walk of about 90 minutes.

All participants taking part in the Maitland Trail events should sign the waiver for 2024, preferably the online version.

Tuesday Trompers meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to hike for about an hour. If you wish to be on this email list, send an email to mta@maitlandtrail.ca

Midweek Hikers hike for 90 minutes to two hours on Wednesdays or Thursdays, contact Patrick Capper.

Both groups meet at 9 a.m. and are open to non-members provided they sign the MTA online waiver.

If you have questions or something of interest for Trail Talk email me, Patrick Capper, at pcapper99@gmail.com.

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